Burma discusses forced labour

Burma is holding talks with the International Labour Organisation
(ILO) on the issue of forced labour.

The three-day meeting in Rangoon, requested by Burma, follows a
decision in June last year which banned Burma from receiving ILO aid
or attending ILO meetings.

The ILO has said that more than 800,000 people—including women,
children and the elderly—are press-ganged into work by the
military authorities.

The ILO's unprecedented action reflected growing international
unease over the issue of forced labour, while Burma's consent to
the talks seems to mark a change of tactics in dealing with
international pressure.

In agreeing to meet the ILO delegation, Burma's military
government obliquely admits there is a problem.

It had reacted angrily to last year's decision.

Observers, however, sceptical about this sudden about-turn, said that
at best, it could only be seen as an exercise in public relations and
not a true acceptance of the ILO's criticisms.

Action plan

ILO director-general Juan Somavia said the sole purpose of the visit
was “to establish with the government a credible plan of action
to ensure the full implementation of the Commission's
recommendations.”

In other words, this is no longer a fact-finding mission.

The ILO investigation commission report of 1998 calls for the
abolition of the “widespread use” of forced labour.

The report mentions “the impunity with which government
officials, in particular the military, treat the civilian population
as an unlimited pool of unpaid forced labourers and servants at their
disposal”.

It recommends Burma bring its legislation into line with international
treaties banning forced labour and to impose penalties on those who
violate the ban.

Total denial

The issue was brought to a head recently with criticism of the French
oil company Total.

Human rights groups say the company was aware of the Burmese
army's action in using forced labour to prepare the way for Total
to build a gas pipeline.

The company has denied the charges.

The British Government has put pressure on another company, Premier
Oil, to withdraw from Burma.

The country's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has called for
the unilateral withdrawal of all foreign companies working in Burma.